Is this salvagable as a user plane? -old Bailey 4 1/2

**fudo133** · 7th April 2015, 10:14 PM

Hi all,

As a very new newbie to antique planes and handtools I can honestly say i have no idea what i'm doing and that I'm hoping someone on here might be able to offer some insight and advice as to whether this Bailey 4 1/2 i bought on the weekend is any good.

I cleaned up the knob and the handle this afternoon and gave each a sealer coat of shellac simply to see how they'd come up and have cleaned some of the surface rust off one side to see if it went deep, but aside from that haven't really done anything to it since i brought it home.

I believe the wood is Brazilian rosewood and to my novice eye at least, i can't find any serious issues with the steel parts of the plane like deep rust or cracks.

I've got a little bit of suitable rosewood to cut a wedge for the broken handle and the crack in the knob isn't too serious at this point.

IMG_3439.jpg IMG_3435.jpg IMG_3431.jpg

Can anyone tell me where to start on fixing it up and getting it working properly?

And if anyone happens to be knowledgeable about old stanley/bailey planes, can you tell me roughly when it might have been made?

**Fuzzie** · 7th April 2015, 10:57 PM

Another one on the slippery slope. It looks like a 3 date USA from the pics.

A page to help you work it out its age....

http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/sta..._flowchart.php

**fudo133** · 7th April 2015, 11:04 PM

It is indeed!
Going by the details written about it on that page it sounds like its complete too which is nice

Now for the other part....whether it can actually be fixed up to be used and whether they're a good user plane in general?

**Pac man** · 7th April 2015, 11:06 PM

A fine example of a plane

With regard to the handle or tote you shouldn't need to insert a wedge. I would start this part by unscrewing the screw holding it on to see if the Two parts mate. Here is a how to on repairing a handle

https://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/pl...air/handle.htm

the site although goes through other processes such as sharpening the blade

**Pac man** · 7th April 2015, 11:15 PM

I have learnt a lot from Jim Davey over the years. This is his notes from his site. These are given out in his workshops
http://www.jimdavey-planes-sharpenin...b0feea8bf.aspx

**fudo133** · 7th April 2015, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by Pac man

I have learnt a lot from Jim Davey over the years. This is his notes from his site. These are given out in his workshops
http://www.jimdavey-planes-sharpenin...b0feea8bf.aspx

Thanks so much! There's lots of useful information in there, even to a novice like me.

**Pac man** · 7th April 2015, 11:51 PM

No probs. Enjoy it.

Thread: Is this salvagable as a user plane? -old Bailey 4 1/2

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Is this salvagable as a user plane? -old Bailey 4 1/2

Similar Threads

stanley/bailey plane

bailey plane,s age.

Genuine Bailey Plane

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions